All 260 miners rescued after Sibanye Stillwater mine incident | Image: Sibanye Stillwater
(Th Post News)-Sibanye Stillwater mine has rescued all 260 workers who were trapped underground. This statement follows the mine’s confirmation yesterday that 181 miners remained trapped underground due to an incident that damaged the hoist system used to access a shaft at the Kloof mine in Westonaria, Johannesburg on Thursday, 22 May.
According to the statement released by the mine on Friday, 79 miners were rescued, while 181 miners remained trapped underground. On Friday the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Health and Safety Chairperson, Duncan Luvuno, said there have been no injuries reported despite mine workers having no access to food underground. Luvuno expressed his disappointment to the mine, saying that “Sibanye tried to cover it up”.
Nonetheless, the families of the 181 miners who were still trapped underground have expressed deep concerns about their loved ones. Mamodise Mokone is one of the families who were worried; her husband was among those who were trapped underground. She says she would like to see her husband alive when he has surfaced. In the meantime, Sibanye has assured the families that their loved ones were safe as they were still finding ways to rescue them.
Meanwhile, Sibanye Stillwater has shut down its Kloof mine until it completes safety assessments.
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